Passive House in Mount Tremper by IdSR Architects in Dwell

Their goal to preserve as many trees as possible while leaving the land and water flows undisturbed was coupled with their desire to build a house that consumed minimal energy—perhaps even giving back to the grid. After surveying the land and constructing a small studio on the site, they chose a plot toward the top of the slope, away from the streams, where they could place the septic field. They cleared a spot with a preponderance of ash trees, which were already threatened by an infestation of emerald ash borers in the state, and reluctantly sacrificed a large white pine that was in danger of toppling.